North American Universities

So basically I have the chance to complete my 3rd year of a 4 year masters (Maths) abroad - North America is where the majority of options are. Opinions and views and experiences from any of the following would be greatly appreciated... (The first three are my candidates, the rest I'm not really fussed about)

Simon Fraser University, Canada
The Pennsylvania State University, USA
University of Virginia, USA

State University of New York at Binghamton, USA
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
Dalhousie University, Canada
Purdue University, USA

Then there's also the National University of Singapore but I don't know if there's many people from Singapore on here...

And also the University of Wollongong, Australia; but again I don't know how many Aussies are around.

I went to UVA and majored in math. It was decent. What math are you interested in? It's strong "enough" in algebra, analysis, and topology, but it doesn't really have an applied department to speak of. However, it's almost certainly better than the other places you listed.

All things Pure really. My tutor reckons I should pick the modules I would pick if I stayed here for 3rd year, then match them as close as possible to modules from the courses offered wherever. I'm really tempted by Singapore to be honest, but Virginia is definitely my favourite of the North American Unis.

I went to UVA and majored in math. It was decent. What math are you interested in? It's strong "enough" in algebra, analysis, and topology, but it doesn't really have an applied department to speak of. However, it's almost certainly better than the other places you listed.

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True. I never went to UVA but it's the highest ranked and probably the best school on your list.

I started out at Univ. of Nebraska at Omaha. I mention Omaha, because when you're a student at any of the Univ. of Nebraska campuses, you're a student at all of them (Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, and the Medical Center in Omaha), so you'll have access to any of them.

Lincoln is a good solid campus (majored in Comp. Sci. there and Omaha, which obviously included a lot of math). Fairly easy to get around, and has a very strong math department. The only downside I had to Lincoln is that it is downtown (read: CBD), and is a pure college town. The university carries a lot for the income for the town. the city (basically the state) stops for the gridiron game every Saturday. It (the city) is a lot smaller than Omaha, but only an hour's drive away, has decent public transportation, and in all, is a nice midwest town.

I only visited SFU when I visited Vancouver and the Uni. of Wollongong when I lived in Australia (I went to UTS there), so I can't say much on those. Hopefully some Cadians and Aussies pop up with something.

So basically I have the chance to complete my 3rd year of a 4 year masters (Maths) abroad - North America is where the majority of options are. Opinions and views and experiences from any of the following would be greatly appreciated... (The first three are my candidates, the rest I'm not really fussed about)

Simon Fraser University, Canada
The Pennsylvania State University, USA
University of Virginia, USA

State University of New York at Binghamton, USA
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
Dalhousie University, Canada
Purdue University, USA

Then there's also the National University of Singapore but I don't know if there's many people from Singapore on here...

And also the University of Wollongong, Australia; but again I don't know how many Aussies are around.

Everything's helpful guys - fire away.

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SFU is located in Vancouver. It's one of the prettiest places on earth. The main campus is on top of a mountain, so it's not the most convenient place if you don't have your own transport.

Weatherwise, summer in Vancouver is gorgeous. In the winter, it's EXACTLY the same as in UK. Rainy, chilly (not cold compared to other parts of Canada), windy. In other words, you will feel right back home.

SFU is a good, but not exceptional, school. It ranks in the middle of the pack in terms of Canadian schools. It's campus is also nothing to write home about. However, Vancouver is. Of the places you've listed, Vancouver would be my top choice of where I would want to go on exchange.

I think the decision comes down to, what do you want on exchange? If you simply want to complete your degree, then take the best-ranked university. If you want the experience of living somewhere new, then take the one that offers the best experience. Of your three, Vancouver is it (imo), and Singapore would be even better.

SFU is a good, but not exceptional, school. It ranks in the middle of the pack in terms of Canadian schools. It's campus is also nothing to write home about. However, Vancouver is. Of the places you've listed, Vancouver would be my top choice of where I would want to go on exchange.

I think the decision comes down to, what do you want on exchange? If you simply want to complete your degree, then take the best-ranked university. If you want the experience of living somewhere new, then take the one that offers the best experience. Of your three, Vancouver is it (imo), and Singapore would be even better.

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Yeah I've visited Vancouver before and I love the city. But I adore Asia and would kill for the chance to live there for a year...

I go to Purdue and am double majoring in computer science and math and despite the fact that you'll be in graduate classes, I can tell you that Purdue has an excellent reputation in mathematics (ranked 28th in the US as of 2008) and applied mathematics (ranked 19th).

I definitely think Purdue is worth heavy consideration. It is a strong science university thus we have a large graduate population. What have you heard?

the math dept is REALLY STRONG here.
some awesome profs and visiting scholars.
the top of mountain thing does suck in the winter, it may be light jacket weather in the city but up there is foot of snow on ground.
get snowed in and stuck on campus at least twice a year.
BTW there are three campuses Downtown Van, Burnaby Mountain and Surrey.

Singapore would be an incredible place to live, but also the biggest culture shock and ridiculously hot and humid and expensive. Then Vancouver has the opposite climate issue (when it's snowing anyway) but it's an incredible place and less of a culture shock. Then Virginia would be an amazing University to go to but Charlottesville doesn't really appeal all that much... Though I'd love to drive across America after the year's finished and see the country properly.

Though I'd love to drive across America after the year's finished and see the country properly.

Hmmm.

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Couldn't you still do that if you went to Vancouver? Or do a drive across Canada and check out Toronto and Montréal?

I don't know anything about any of these universities, but I do know that if I was given the opportunity to spend a year studying elsewhere, I wouldn't want to spend that year in Virginia. Vancouver or Singapore would both be great.

Couldn't you still do that if you went to Vancouver? Or do a drive across Canada and check out Toronto and Montréal?

I don't know anything about any of these universities, but I do know that if I was given the opportunity to spend a year studying elsewhere, I wouldn't want to spend that year in Virginia. Vancouver or Singapore would both be great.

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Yeah I could.

I've decided that I'm gonna put Singapore as my first choice, Vancouver second and Virginia third.

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